The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (by Rodman Philbrick)

When his underage older brother, Harold, is illegally conscripted into the Union Army during the Civil War, Homer sets out on a picaresque quest to rescue him. Along the way he encounters a Quaker running an Underground Railway station, a medicine show con man who may be a spy, and a hot-air balloonist, among others, before finally catching up with his brother -- just in time for the Battle of Gettysburg.

It's a tricky task the author has set himself here: to convey something of the reality of this horrific war, as well as the mistreatment of African-Americans (not to mention orphans), in the context of a broadly humorous tall tale told by a boy who believes that "old Truth ain't nearly as useful as a fib sometimes." That he accomplishes it so well is no surprise, coming from the author of Freak the Mighty: this is a writer who knows how to balance humor, poignancy, and power, never going overboard in any one direction.

He also manages to create a story that reads like a tall tale, populated with larger-than-life characters, that somehow rarely strains credulity. It's one of those cinematic stories that not only runs like a movie in the reader's head, but also prompts mental attempts at casting, a game your kids might enjoy. Homer is an appealing hero -- recklessly adventurous, dishonest for the sheer creative fun of it, and goodhearted as only a kid can be. With touches of Dickens and Twain, this is s a delightful read with some layers that may prompt your kids to learn more.

Author: Rodman Philbrick
Publisher: Blue Sky Press
Publication date: January 1, 2009
Number of pages: 224
Hardcover price: $16.99